supporter of slavery wrote the decision and then administered the oath of office to president lincoln. on the same bible that president obama used in his inauguration and will again. this time, the current kmechief justice will prepare to administer is oath and with his fellow justices, soak in the memory of the room, and the moment. >> this is where the justices can go on inauguration day. and this is of course the bench. this is our wonderful historic benches. this is the bench. >> this is the bench where the justices came and sat. you will see some of the different chairs that they use. it's not used for very many events at all. it's a very rare occasion where we have the chief justices come back. >> now, chief justice john roberts will administer the the

oath to the president, and the first latino justice will do so for the vice president, so much of it is mandated by the constitution, the day, the time, the actual oath, the justices administering the oath is not, it's just tradition, it just happened for 200 years or so. >> we were watching the piece. it's so interesting, you do not often think of all the tradition that is steeped in this and rarely get a chamber that you get a look at. >> and covering congress, i literally run by these rooms every day and to be able to go inside and be able to understand the unbelievable history from is pretty amazing. >> it was a great piece. thank you. >> thank you. >> we love it so much. thank you, very, very much. and happening now, festivities are in full swing. and this is the second term inauguration of the president of the united states. we want to welcome our viewers in the united states and around the world. you are in the situation room.

>> the focus of the inaugural festivities right now. a wonderful night for the kids at the washington convention center. it's a special member for a lot of families. >> it is. it's by invitation only. they are showing a video. we are looking at live pictures of the event. they are showing a video. it's invitation of families of service men and women to honor the service. the first daughters, sash a&m alia is there. and the first lady will introduce katy perry. you have have no idea how excited wolf is for that moment. >> we are all excited. everybody washington getting ready for the historic moment. we are watching what is going on. hillary, as we get ready for this. once again, set the scene. why the first lady and dr. jill

biden. vice president's wife, they brought the kids and grandkids and 5,000 other families and kids for a cool, cool performance. >> it started with obama's want to not have such a fancy inauguration ceremony. recognizing the times. and they wanted to spaurlt tupp military families. so they decided to have the performers that supported them during the campaign and over the years to come and perform for the military and their families. >> it's a great event. we are outside the concert, brook, what is going on, for the viewers that are just tooning in. what can we expect? >> hillary is right, it's all about these families of men and women in uniform and it is really tonight, they are calling it the kids' inaugural concert

is. it's all about the kids. i was just up there. it was just above my head whumpt walk in, there's not a soul seated in a chair. so, i walked in, the whole thing started. you have nick cannon that was invited to come host the whole thing. he told me how he was a surrogate during the 2008 campaign. and usher performed. wolf you were asking earlier, he opened with "yeah." which is a huge hit for him. we are waiting right now, let me look at the schedule of events. next up on stage, the soul children of chicago, with black violins, the kids choir and the first lady will be in there, the first daughters, sash a&m alia, dr. biden and the first lady will take to the stage and they will introduce all of your favorite and mine, katy perry.

soul children are on stage right now. that's going to be a big surprise what she will be singing. >> he will be asking the question. >> that's the big surprise. >> he will be asking that question until it happens. >> quickly, in 2009, that was the first inauguration for president obama, they had a similar event and you know, they say ahead of time, we are trying to get details, will there be surprises? what will sash a&m alia be doing? so i would not be surprised, you guys, if we see maybe some first daughters grooving on stage with katy perry. i don't know, i don't know if it will happen, but it's something to watch for. >> many, many surprises ahead. brookee we will come back to you, and check out the inaugural concert as it unfolds and we want to say, of course, to remind you this is the national

day of service, encouraging volunteers across the country to help with local projects on the weekend of martin luther king, jr. day, the president and first lady took part, helping as you see there, to stain a bookcase in a elementary school here in washington. and the president talked about the meaning of the day. >> everybody here. adults to children understand the importance of giving back. a as we think about not so much inauguration, but we think about the fact that this is dr. king's birthday that we will be celebrating this weekend, i'm always reminded that he said, everybody wants to be first. everyone wants to be a drum major. but if you are going to be a drum major be a drum major for service. be a drum major for justice, for

looking out for other people. >> vice president joe biden and members of his family also took part in the national day of service. helping to put together care packages for deployed troops at the national guard armory in washington. >> it was president clinton that signed the bill designating the national day of service every mlk weekend, his daughter is honorary chair woman this time around. >> chelsea is the honorary chair woman? there she is, she spoke beautifully. >> indeed. let's listen in a bit. you know what i wanted to take? in't with -- i wanted to listen bit. this is the kids choir, they look like they are having fun. ♪

ut they're gonna fall in lov, get married, have a couple of kids, [ children laughing ] move to the country, and live a long, happy life together where they almost never fight about money. [ dog barks ] because right after they get married, they'll find some retirement people who are paid on salary, not commission. they'll get straightforward guidance and be able to focus on other things, like each other, which isn't rocket science. it's just common sense. from td ameritrade.

it's just common sense. trying to find a better job can likbe frustrating.gs, so at university of phoenix we're working with a growing list of almost two thousand corporate partners - companies like microsoft, american red cross and adobe - to create options for you. not only that, we're using what we learn from these partners to shape our curriculum, so that when you find the job you want you'll be a perfect fit. let's get to work. ya. alright, another one just like that. right in the old bucket. good toss! see that's much better! that was good. you had your shoulder pointed, you kept your eyes on your target. let's do it again -- watch me.

just like that one... [ male announcer ] the durability of the volkswagen passat. pass down something he will be grateful for. good arm. that's the power of german engineering. ♪ back to you.

>>. ♪ ♪ baby your a firework ♪ come on let your fires burst >> kids are excited getting ready for katy perry, the soul children of chicago with black violins are performing. let's listen in briefly. ♪ >> everybody put it up like this. put it up like this insig >> now we are going to get crazy. higher! >> higher! >> higher! ♪ higher and higher

♪ higher insight higher and higher ♪ >> hi, this is the kids' choir, they are yujumping up and and having a great time. >> to continue, president obama, he may want to recall all the fun and goodwill of the weekend as he gets into his second four years in office, because it may not be so fun and be filled with so much goodwill. >> if history is judge, second term is often a problem. >> yeah, they are tough. when you start your second term, you are thinking about your legacy. how the history books will look at you. and you always have as my mother would say, big eyes. you want everything and when you look at second term presidents. you know, they get bogg down often. ronald reagan had iran/contra,

things that keep them from doing what they want to do. if you look at president obama, who wanted to be after all a transformational president, if you look at the first term, he did get health care reform. and that is a big issue that he will be remembered for one way or the other. if you look at the second term, i would have to say that immigration reform, which i think is something that is likely to happen, because republicans need it to happen also. that is another big tempitem 67f you take immigration and health care reform, you would have to say that legacy is looking historic. >> is that part of what is difficult for the president in the second term, thinking about the legacy that they will leave behind? >> i think it is. you tepd nd to say you want to everything i have four years left. with president obama, he wants to do gun control and immigration reform. he has all the fiscal issues before he even gets to those.

he wants to do something on climate change. the agenda is big and the problem that second term presidents have is that general after about 18 months in, you are sort of considered a lame duck. members of your own party start saying, you know what? who is coming next? how am i getting re-elected and what can you do to help me. if you are not an incumbent, and you are looking on your way out, you lose your power. so whatever you will do, you have to try and get it done quickly. >> what you are saying is there's a narrow window, this year, for example, 2013, some of 2014, for him to really get his agenda done. >> the problem for the president is he has to get through the fiscal issues first. those are big speed bumps in his way. if he can get through the fiscal issues, go on to immigration, i would argue that would be the thing to do next. try to get some part of gun control. that's a good legacy. >> if he does economic issues, if he sdz guns and if he does

comprehensive immigration reform, that is an impressive second term if he gets that agenda done. >> it would be and let's not forget that he was dealing with health care and other issues in the first term and the environment of the biggest economic problems since the depression. and moved through that. you know, the thing about these second term priorities though is that it's very clear from all sorts of polling and other things that those issues doing something on gun control, doing something on climate, passing immigration, those are issues that the american people support. actually independents and even represent are cans support much of that agenda as well, i think that makes him not so wild eyed. i think that makes him have an opportunity to be sort of practical and forceful and build coalitions in a way that maybe republicans who do not want to see him get re-elected the first time have less to lose in helping this time. >> he let's not forget, he has

national security and foreign policy issues that could enter fear. >> he is ending two unpopular wars. >> over with, we will see what happens here. >> as we talk about all this, it will be interesting to see what he hits on in the address. let's dip in. >> mindless behavior performing right here, let's listen in a bit. ♪ you say what's up and i be like baby do you miss me ♪ when you say yes, and i say you know, you can hit me back with the less than symbol number three ♪ ♪ ♪ a miley with a wink ♪ that's how you feel, baby that's what's up ♪ ♪ 140 characters is more than just enough ♪ ♪ my girl, my girl she loves me ♪ ♪ i know i'm on her mind ♪ my girl, my girl she loves me ♪ she hits me all the time ♪

♪ i'm going to be waking up the winks ♪ ♪ yeah ♪ she hit me all the time ♪ yeah ♪ and i say hello, hit me with a sad face ♪ ♪ what i do i hit you with a question mark ♪ note you send me back a j slash i'm just playing with you ♪ ♪ i got a clue how you feel for me, one, two, three, a smiley with a wink ♪ ♪ 140 characters are more than enough ♪ ♪ >> mindless behavior was a band not very well known, was performed at the white house easter egg roll and was a huge favorite of the first daughters and the first lady. then since they played at the white house easter egg roll,

they got famous and the obamas specifically requested that they come back and perform at the inaugural, they are adorable. none of them are over the age of 17. >> they absolutely look older than that age. when you think, hillary, this is "my girl," the song they are performing. 14 million views on youtube. it shows the power of the internet in the recording industry. >> it's true and a lot of people say that you just -- stars are not created anymore in music. you know, they were not paying attention to you know, these people, and bands of teenagers stars are being created. >> and they have a positive message they are trying to bring as well. i think that is why the first lady and the white house, they like this group a lot. we will take a quick break and listen to a little music as we go to the break. ♪ i tell her all my secrets and she tell me all of hers ♪ ♪ when we get off the phone, she says no, you hang up first ♪ ♪ all the money in the world cannot make up what she is

worth ♪ ♪ of this my girl calling ♪ fortunately we've got ink. it gives us 5x the rewards on our internet, phone charges and cable, plus at office supply stores. rewards we put right back into our business. this is the only thing we've ever wanted to do and ink helps us do it. make your mark with ink from chase. so we created the extraordinarily comfortable sleep number experience. a collection of innovations designed around a bed with dualair technology that allows you to adjust to the support your body needs - each of your bodies. our sleep professionals will help you find your sleep number setting. exclusively at a sleep number store. sleep number. comfort individualized. save $500 on our special edition bed set. plus, 48-month financing on all beds. now at the sleep number white sale.

email marketing from constant contact reaches people in a place they're checking every day -- their inbox. and it gives you the tools to create custom emails that drive business. it's just one of the ways constant contact can help you grow your small business. sign up for your free trial today at constantcontact.com/try.

♪ hey >> mindless behavior, still performing over there at the washington convention center at the kids' inaugural concert, hosted by the first lady of the united states and great joe biden vice president's wife. they are all having a great time. honoring military families. >> mostly the kids that were invited were from military families. >> and it's about kids covering politics. mallory moore is a kids' reporter who interviewed michelle obama and jill abide expend then than a, also -- and then hannah, she interviewed as

well. >> so yesterday, you spent time with the first lady and second lady of the united states? >> yes, i did. >> how did it go? >> it was nice to meet them. they made you feel relaxed in the white house and i liked getting to know them and what they liked to read. >> are you going write an article? >> yes, i posted on the kids' blog page, a small paragraph about it. >> what did you say? >> i talked about joining forces, which is the important military program that supports the military families. and i find that important because it's not supporting the people that are off at war, it's supporting their families and their children. >> and hannah, you are covering the kids' inaugural concert for scholastic, many are saying, you two are impressive, do the kids care about the inauguration and do they pay attention and why should they?

>> i have been covering the election for the past couple of months and i found that i think that kids do care and they care about the process and i mean, it's their future. >> you interviewed the president of the united states last year as well. tell us how that happened? >> well, i have been a reporter for scholastic since last year when i was 11. and i've gotten a lot of cool things. among which was meeting the president. did it in the white house, in a room that the public was not -- it was not open to the public. >> do you remember the name of the room? >> it was the diplomat room. >> there's a picture. you see it right there, we put the picture up for twitter. you see it there? >> mallory, tell us about the interview with the first lady and dr. biden. what did you learn from them, what was the most interesting thing that you picked up? >> i liked learning about the joining forces program, because i didn't know a lot about it before hand, it was nice to know that children are included.

and i also enjoyed learning about what they like to read. >> what do they like to read? >> the obama family just finished reading "life of pi" all together and then they watch today movie, so that is next -- they watched the movie and so that will be next on my list to read. >> good choice. have you met any of the tars tonight did you get a chance to meet sa is sh a&m alia in. >> i was just there, and i left to come talk to you. i did not get to meet them, no. but i did see them up on stage and i saw nick cannon right before i left. >> were you nervous when you spoke to the president of the united states? >> i was extremely nervous. he was just about as awas as us two right now. and i mean, he is the president of the united states, he is a historic figure. i will never be as i was. >> were you nervous interviewing the first lady? >> i was and then they walked in

and they were so relaxed. >> where you from? >> washington, d.c. >> frederick, maryland. >> it's not far for you to go over to the white house, maybe you will be a frequent guest. that would be cool, wouldn't it? >> yeah, i would definitely like do more of that. >> pretty exciting, how many kids your age get invited to interview the first lade or the president in that's pretty good. >> i think that is pretty good, your friends were impressed with that. huh? >> yeah. >> do a good job and you will be on cnn soon. you want to join us? >> sure, i would love to. >> this is what i want you to do, take a quick break, much of of our coverage right after this. >> you can both say it. >> you can do it. >> we are taking a quick break and we will be right back soon. >> we have more coverage. >> with month much more coverage. >> congratulations. >> congratulations, we will be right back.actu my geico app...see?

...i just uh paid my bill. did you really? from the plane? yeah, i can manage my policy, get roadside assistance, pretty much access geico 24/7. sounds a little too good to be true sir. i'll believe that when pigs fly. ok, did she seriously just say that? geico. just click away with our free mobile app. ♪ ♪

♪ [ male announcer ] some day, your life will flash before your eyes. ♪ make it worth watching. ♪ the new 2013 lexus ls. an entirely new pursuit. the new 2013 lexus ls. capella university understands bright students are getting lost in the shuffle. need. and administration's work gets more complex every year. when you look at these issues, do you see problems or opportunities? with an advanced degree in education from capella university, you'll have the knowledge to meet these challenges and make a difference in the lives of students. let's get started at capella.edu.

♪ >> the musical comedy television show, "gleason" are now, some of the performers, let's listen. >> okay. ♪ now you are shopping anywhere, change the color of your hair ♪ ♪ and did you have to play that fine ♪ ♪ on are you still busy ♪ seems i'm coming home when my body has been embarrassed and i miss your ginger hair and the way you like to dress ♪ ♪ won't you come on over

♪ stop making a fool out of me ♪ why don't you come on over, baby ♪ ♪ valerie ♪ valerie ♪ why don't you come on over thank you. >> very, very popular show, "gleason" on tv, they are performing right now, some -- glee ♪ >> the concert hosted by the first lady and dr. biden, it's a commercial success. it's so huge they have guest appearances from other huge stars. the list goes on and on and on. it's a huge success, is it is in

the fourth season? yeah, it's in the fourth season right now and it continues to be a hugely popular show with many. >> if you work hard and play by the rules. kate, i know when you were in college, you performed and you could be on "glee," you have a beautiful voice. >> only in the makeup room when are in there. >> some day, some day, i will make it. >> hillary rosen, "glee". >> i am working on it. >> love it, love it. >> serious news we are watching. very serious. visible security presence here in washington, d.c. for the inauguration weekend as it should be. joe johns is working this part of the story. security incredibly tight. >> yes, the good news is that we have been in contact with the law enforcement officials all day long. no credible threats or advisories going out. everything seems to be on

schedule. if you feel like you are being watched right now. you are. there are cameras all over this place. and they are looking at everything that happens. a huge law enforcement presence here. we are talking about 4,000 d.c. police that are always here. 6,000 national guards people. 2000 law enforcement officers and those are what we know about. there may be more than that. all of this to keep people safe. the biggest thing of course here in washington, d.c. is crowd control. authorities are expecting 800,000 people here in the mall. much fewer than four years ago. nonetheless, it's a huge number for them to deal with. so they have to deal with it in the metro systems. on the streets, coming and going, all of it just a giant enterprise for washington d skr and all the law enforcement people. >> it's a balance they have to strike to have the amount of

security they want but to not completely shut down the city and make it look like a military zone. >> you hit the nail on the head. they are sensitive to that. we know from the other political conventions that occurred here in washington, d.c., the so-called national security events that are run by the secret service but police and other officials are brought in from everywhere, you can have a situation where it looks like a police state. certainly they are trying tone it down a bit and in fact, they are going have fewer authorities here than they did four years ago, because they are expecting fewer people. >> what you are saying is this entire area, there's closed circuit tv everywhere. >> closed circuit tv everywhere and that is just right now. at 3:00 in the morning on monday morning, before the inauguration, that is when they really lock this down, this place down, it becomes a secure environment. and that is when it all goes in to effect.

>> you see the everything unfolding and for good reason, we hope it stays quiet and calm on this historic presidential inauguration weekend. joe johns thank you. we will take a break and get back to the kids' inaugural concert. more coming up, our special coverage continues here in "the situation room." if there was a pill to help protect your eye health as you age... would you take it? well, there is. [ male announcer ] it's called ocuvite. a vitamin totally dedicated to your eyes, from the eye care experts at bausch + lomb. as you age, eyes can lose vital nutrients.

ocuvite helps replenish key eye nutrients. ocuvite has a unique formula not found in your multivitamin to help protect your eye health. now that's a pill worth taking. [ male announcer ] ocuvite. help protect your eye health. it's lots of things. all waking up. connecting to the global phenomenon we call the internet of everything. ♪ it's going to be amazing.

and exciting. and maybe, most remarkably, not that far away. we're going to wake the world up. and watch, with eyes wide, as it gets to work. cisco. tomorrow starts here.

♪ >> they are performing some members, cast from "glee" and the kids choir here, as we get ready to hear from dr. jill biden, the first lady, michelle obama who will introduce katy perry. >> finally, finally. katy perry. >> we will be watching it until then, and then we will talk more politics. >> good idea. >> we have our contributors here. hello again, gentlemen. >> good to be here. >> are the republicans now on board, comprehensive immigration reform, it's a done deal this year? >> i think there's a very good chance that the republicans are

going to support something big and important and try to get at least a start on a dressing to change in the electorate. yes. marco rubio seems to be the leader of the movement, a plan that says, if you are here and working and contributing, there's a path to legal status and eventually then of course to citizenship. >> is so van, are depositions ready to accept, ready to get on board with the rubio plan. >> it's funny, it's almost just like the obama plan. that's the great thing bit. when people sit down to solve a problem the solutions are there. and on this issue, the republicans have gotten themselves into a cul-de-sac, and they know they cannot win an election with the base they have. they have to grow. it's about real people. it's about people in the country. they care of our children. they do some of the hardest work in america and they deserve

respect. >> some of them end up on cn n. >> that's right 6789. >> there's divisions in the party, this will be a tough one. when the boat is dead in the water and the committee is not moving forward, it brings the wofrts out of folks. i'm running out of food, and more for you means less for me. the economy gets going, if things get better and if the republicans get a leader like rubio leading this and he can get the boat moving forward a bit, there's hope. >> the key issue, alex, amnesty, it's a sensitive issue. of the undocumented workers in the united states, millions them qualify. is that amnesty? >> i think we will have to find a new word. >> i was just going to say that. who is going to try to find the new word. you know how it works.

>> i think the rubio plan has found, if you are here, if you have committed a crime and you have done something that has taken from the country, then there's no place for you. if you are contributing to the country. if you are a part of the fabric, if you came here because you want to add to something that is great. then there's a way and so yes, they will find a way, but i'm not sure they are going to call it with the big scarlet a. >> i think that, you know, first of all. i think president obama has been extraordinarily brave in trying to move the agenda forward. i think that the african american community which in the past has been pulled into the anti-immigrant camp has been patient. you have not seen a lot of african americans saying what about my job. i think there's a sense that we have to embrace everyone. and especially when you talk about young peerm and people working hard, we have the genius of all people in the country. we have the wisdom of all the people in the country. we can tap it and have more jobs than last. i'm proud that the african

american community has supported the president. >> you say he has been brave, he wanted to get something done his first year, it was not at the top of his agenda. >> he had to kind of save the country from the great depression. but he did not have a partner on the other side. i'm glad there will be a partner on the other side. it will be tough for the democrat i can base and parts of the republican base, but it will get done this year. >> we know president bush tried and failed, even if he had senator kennedy and mccain. >> let's see if the math is different. >> hillary stand by, i want to go to brooke. brooke, what is going on is this. >> we need to have fun here. we are in washington, it's a saturday night. there's a huge crowd in the cc convention center in the building. you are looking at the live pictures. so, we have and i'm glancing over my shoulder to see everyone in the crowd here. all these kids. this is about the kids as we have been saying. this is a way, this is such a --

so near and deer to the hearts of dr. jill biden and the first lady of the united states. this whole idea of honoring our men and women in uniform. i've been in the hall where you are look at the pictures and there's not a soul in the chair. everyone is on their feet watching and waiting. this is why you need to stay tuned in. we are waiting to see the first lady. michelle obama will take the stage and she will have a few words. i'm sure she will echo what nick cannon said that this night is all but, the kids of our men and women in uniform and then after michelle obama, she then tees up the big headliner. katy perry, i know you all have been talking about her. she takes to the stage. and there could be surprises. the first daughters, will they, might they get up on the stage? we have to wait and see. this is so exciting.

this is the place to be. not on the national mall all quiet. right here. in the convention center. >> we are having fun too. i assure you. >> we may rather be there though. >> brooke is having more fun than we are. >> brooke, stand by, we will come back to you after a quick break. the first lady of the united states and katy perry, after this. a dry mouth sufferer doesn't have to suffer. i would recommend biotene. the enzymes in biotene products help supplement enzymes that are naturally in saliva. biotene helps moisten those areas that have become dry. those that are suffering can certainly benefit from biotene.

>> the first lady -- coming on katy perry. thank you for all that you continue to do for our military families. the first lady and i are so excited to be here with all these military kids. i want to give a special welcome to some very brave kids. from the delaware army national guard, 153 military police company. [ applause ]

just a few weeks ago, i was with them when their moms or dads were deployed to afghanistan. i want you all to know, that we are so proud of you. and we will be here for you when your moms and dads are away. the first lady you and i knew from the start that we wanted to celebrate this strength and service of our military families. that is why we started joining forces, our efforts to encourage all americans to find ways to honor and support our troops, veterans and military families. joining forces is especially monitor to because i know

something about being a military mom. my son was deployed to iraq for a year. bo has two children. natalie and hunter. so, i know -- [ applause ] >> thank you. so, i know first hand just how important it is for a child to have every one's support. their friends, their teachers and their entire community when mom or dad is away. so, we want tonight to be one special way that our country shows all of you just how much we appreciate everything that you are doing for our country. and why are so excited to be here with you tonight. here with everyone. now i would like to introduce someone else who is so proud of you and excited to be here. she she has been working so hard for

military families, please welcome my great friend and partner. first lady mitchell obama. [ applause ] wow, thank you so much. thank you, jill, big hand, jill, my partner. [ applause ] >> how is everybody doing? [ applause ] >> are you guys having fun? [ applause ] >> are you excited to be here for the inauguration? [ applause ] >> well, we are all excited that you could join us tonight both here in washington and from all across the country and around the world by video, we have got kids from fort hood that are

here and folks that joined us from joint base pearl harbor, they are in the house. we have folks from we've got folks from camp penalton here with pena pen dalton. and coast station clearwater here as well. yes. and for the wonderful kids from naval air station siganela who led the pledge of allegiance. yes. we have some very special guests that are here as well, your patients! those are your parents. let's bring them a round of applause. we brought them in. they're right there. wave to them. they can see you.

now, inauguration is a really big deal. there's balls. everybody dress up and dances. we had wonderful days of services today. hundreds of thousands of people come from all 50 states to join in the celebration. let me tell you, i love every single money of it. every single minute. but i have to tell you that my very favorite part of this entire weekend is being right here with all of you. absolutely. because for me, this is what inauguration is all about. it's about celebrating who we are as americans and all the things that make this country so great. and when i think about who we are, when i think about who makes america great, i think about all of you, our men and

women in uniform, our mill lair spouses and our amazing military kids. and that's why jill and i wanted to host this event. when we said we wanted to host a concerto honor our military kids, let me tell you, everyone wanted to be here. usher wanted to be here. katy perry wanted to be here. nick cannon. the folks from "glee" and all the other amazing performers, they wanted to be here too. and let me tell you, they're not here for me. they're not here for dr. biden. they are here for all of you, because they know the kind of sacrifices you all make every single day. let me just share something. did you know that a military kid attends an average of 6 to 9

schools by the time he or she graduates from high school? just think about that. just imagine how much courage it takes to always be the new kid. to walk through the doors of a new school every couple of years, to have to make new friends again and again. and did you know that our men and women in uniform often have to be away from their families for months. sometimes years. now, just think about the level of maturity that is required from military kids during those times. just think about that. think about how they have to step up at home without even being asked. taking out the trash when dad's not there. helping brothers and sisters with their homework when mom is away. think about mao hard it is for military kids to be apart from the people they love most. how they miss their moms and

dads every day and would do anything to have them back home. and that's just a glimpse of what it means to be a military kid. it means always thinking about things that are so much bigger than yourself. it means growing up just a little faster and working just a little harder than other kids. and it means doing the greatest thing you can ever do with your life at such a young age. and that is to serve our country. so to america's military kids, let me tell you, make no mistake about it, you all are an important part of the greatest military on earth. by supporting your families, you all are helping to prosecute protect this country and keep

every single one of us safe. you're doing that. and dr. biden and i are so incredibly proud of you all. every day we're proud of you. let me tell you, our husbands are proud. the vice president, the president, they are proud of you. and in the coming years, as these wars draw to an end and we draw down our troops, i want you all to know, absolutely. but here's the thing. i want you to know, you and your families to know that we will not be drawing down our work to support you. we will be doing just the opposite. because the fact is that today, we have a greater obligation to serve you than ever before. and we will do everything in our power, everything to meet that obligation, to make sure that our military families get the benefits that they've earned and the support and recognition that you all deserve. so in the coming months and

years, through joining forces, dr. biden and i, we will keep calling on americans to translate the love and pride that we all feel into action that makes a real difference for you and your families. every single one of us has a role to play here. and i encourage everyone watching tonight to go to joiningforces.gov and find out how you can give back to our military families. we are not satisfied until we are serving all of you as well as you've served this country. you all desteferve nothing less. and with that, there's someone else here tonight who would like to show her appreciation for you all. she's our final performer for this evening. should we bring her out? are you ready?

are you really ready? all right, then. it is now my pleasure to introduce the fabulous katy perry! ♪ >> some see things as they are and say why. i dream things that never were and say why not.

dream, dream things. dream, dream things. dream things that never were and say why not. ♪ >> you guys want to have a little more fun? ♪ you think i'm pretty without any makeup on ♪ ♪ you think i'm funny when i tell the punch line wrong ♪ ♪ i know you get me ♪ so i let my walls come down ♪ before you met many e ♪ i was all right ♪ but things were kind of heavy ♪ ♪ you brought me to life ♪ now every february ♪ you'll be my valentine